Committee formed to investigate graft in Khagrachhari police project
The committee led by Md Faruk Ahmed, commander of the Armed Police Battalion-5, will investigate the irregularities
A two-member investigation committee was formed this week to investigate irregularities in the renovation projects of the Armed Police Battalion-6 (APBn-6), said sources at the police headquarters.
The committee led by Md Faruk Ahmed, commander of the Armed Police Battalion-5 (APBn-5), will investigate the irregularities in the repair of the assistant commander's bungalow, force ration store, two semi-pucca force barracks, two inspector quarters, and a 15-bed semi-pucca hospital for the force in Khagrachhari's Mahalchori area.
The other member of the committee is Md Firoz Al Muzahid, additional DIG of the Armed Police Battalion.
On Saturday, APBn-5 Commander Md Faruk Ahmed told the Business Standard that the committee has all the required papers to carry out the investigation, and will visit the project site within the next few days.
On September 9, The Business Standard published a report titled 'A piece of tin-sheet now costs Tk1 lakh.' After that, police headquarters asked for reports on the progress in all ongoing projects for developing police premises around the country.
Related sources said that shortly after starting the project in Khagrachhari, Tk71 lakh had been withdrawn by saying that the work had been completed within 20 days. But according to a note by a member of the repair implementation committee, only 15 percent of the project had been completed four months after starting the work.
Tk14 lakh was withdrawn for providing only two bundles of tin-sheets. This is more than 100 times the actual market price of tin bundles.
Related sources said that money was embezzled from 10 projects including seven renovation projects and one for setting up two module tents.
Sources said, Mahbub Hasan, former APBn-6 battalion commander and now superintended of police (SP) of Madaripur district, issued a work order for Tk71 lakh for the contract work while he was in charge.